“Yes.”
“Let’s talk about the letter,” Bertha said. “Who do you think wrote it?”
“I don’t know.”
Bertha Cool’s quick motion brought a series of squeaks from the swivel chair. “Suppose there’s any chance this mother-in-law of yours is it?”
“What do you mean?”
“The one who wrote the letter?”
A spasm of expression twisted Belder’s face. “Of course! It’s Theresa Goldring! How dumb I was not to have tumbled as soon as I picked up the letter. She’s always hated me. She’s picked on this time to try and hit below the belt. You can see what a sweet predicament I’d be in if she could manage to break things up between Mabel and me right now.”
Bertha frowningly studied the letter.
Belder went on. “And what a sweet spot it would leave Theresa in, if she could poison Mabel’s mind against me... Well, you understand the peculiar situation, Mrs. Cool. I put all of my property in my wife’s name. I swore that it was a gift to her, as her sole and separate property. She swore to the same thing. The court found that that was right. Now then, if she pulls out and takes all the property with her, I’m absolutely powerless.”
“But she wouldn’t turn it over to her mother, would she?” Bertha asked.